The side of the house facing the shore must be at least five feet tall. If a lower barrier is made, the sand will eventually pile against it and find its way over the top. Before any real gardening can be done on the shore, the first thing to do is to anchor the sand to keep it from blowing. Several plants can be used to affect this in conjuction with garden statuary , bird bath, or fountains if you like. The most important of these is European beach grass, also called sea-sand reed. This grass will grow on any part of the coast from Cape Cod to San Francisco.

It is also used along the shores of the Great Lakes or, indeed, wherever sand is a problem. Planted right in the sand, it sends out roots from every joint to catch and hold the sand. As the sand piles up, more roots are formed from the stems. To obtain beach grass, visit an existing planting and dig up sections of it here and there. Then divide these into pieces. Each piece must have roots and two or more leaves. Cut the tops, leaving about eighteen inches. Set the plants two feet apart and plant a good six inches deep in the sand.

Don't plant in straight rows. Zig-zag the plants so that spaces are interrupted. Roots grow out from the base beneath the sand as well as from the stem joints. Spring is the ideal time for planting although it can be done in autumn. A ridge or dune can be formed sooner by mechanical means. The sand can be ridged by hand tools if the area is not large. Bulldozers are used on large areas. A snow fence strung across the line of the prevailing wind will collect a ridge of sand in a short time.

A similar structure made with stakes and branches of trees is a good sand-collector. The ridge when formed is planted on the shore side with beach grass, sea goldenrod and beach wormwood, also called Dusty Miller. Beach Pea and Virginia creeper are good sand binders, too, but they will not hold the sand against severe blowing. They are good supporters when planted amidst beach grass or they can be planted where blowing sand is not too severe.

On the left side of the dune you have a choice of several plants. The most practical are bayberry, Rugosa rose and beach plum. In southern areas, the southern wax-myrtle is used. Among evergreens, the most outstanding, for a great section of the Atlantic coast in exposed positions, is Japanese black pine. Austrian pine, a much larger tree, has been successful in some areas. White spruce grows naturally along the northern New England coast.

In some areas not directly facing the ocean, Colorado blue spruce can be planted. Other plants tolerating exposure at the shore include Russian Olive and Cherry Eleagnus. These are grayish-leaved, fast-growing tall shrubs. The Olive, where not too exposed, will grow into a small sized tree. Tamarisks, tall flowering shrubs, will actively grow in the salt water. With a windbreak established, the way is open for planting many other things: Hydrangeas, roses, holly, shadbush, firethorn, and the Brooms (cytisus).